Punjab governor and university chancellor Shivraj V Patil would confer these degrees.

Stating this, additional director, communication and international linkages, Dr HS Sehgal said 32 research scholars of PAU would be conferred with PhD degrees, while three meritorious students would be honoured with gold medals on the occasion. Dr Kalkat is chairman of the Punjab State Farmers' Commission and a former PAU vice-chancellor.

Dr Paroda is a world-renowned scientist in the field of plant breeding and genetics, former secretary of the department of agriculture research and education, and former director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, while Dr Kanwar, an eminent scientist in soil sciences, is former deputy director general, International Crop Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics, Hyderabad, and was the first head of department, soil sciences, at PAU.